Hurricane Ophelia could slam into Europe early next week

Ophelia is now located across the north-central Atlantic Ocean, roughly 2400 miles from the Grand Strand.

Tropical Storm Ophelia is on the verge of becoming a hurricane in the northeastern Atlantic.

This would tie the record for the most consecutive Atlantic named storms to reach hurricane strength.

According to the US National Hurricane Centre in an update at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, Hurricane Ophelia was positioned around 760 miles (1220 kilometres) southwest of the Azores with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour (120 kilometres per hour).

The hurricane center says some strengthening is in the forecast and Ophelia is expected to become a hurricane any time Wednesday or Thursday. It is possible that this has happened since 1893, but we didn't have the technology to see it.

Ophelia was no threat to the USA but could move near the Azores by the weekend.

While Ophelia may lose the technical aspects that make it a hurricane, it could still pack a punch.

Forecasters say Ophelia is expected to become a hurricane by Thursday.

Ophalia is presently the only storm the NHC is tracking in the Atlantic or Pacific.

After moving past Spain, forecasters expect Ophelia to come quite close to the Irish coast as a strong storm on Monday. Ophelia is now tracking towards Portugal, and will likely pass to the west of the country.

Tropical Storm Ophelia is the latest weather system to whip up winds and rain in the Atlantic.